Nebulizer.



No. 707,282. Patented Aug. l9, I902.

* c. TnuAx.

NEBULIZEB.

(Application filed Mar. 28, 1900.)

(No Mndal.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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' No. 707,282. Patented Aug. 19, I902. 13. TRUAX. Y N'E BULIZER.

(Application filed Mar. 28, 1900.3 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

mwgmmymc w Witmaoaeo NITED STATEs- PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES TRUAX, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

NEBULIZER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,282, dated August 19, 1902. Application filed March 28,1900. Serial No. 10,540. (Nomodglj for its object to provide an improved con-.

struction and arrangement of parts whereby a simple, cheap, and effective nebulizer is obtained; and to these ends my invention consists in a nebulizer embodying the various features of construction and arrangement having the general mode of operation, substan tially as hereinafter more particularly set forth. Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a device embodying my invention, the flexible deliverypipes being omitted. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail crosssection showing the arrangement of air-tube and nebula-tube and the connections between them. Fig. 4 is a vertical side view of my improved nebulizing-tube. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a portion thereof. Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6, Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a sectional detail View of the improved cut-0E.

The use of air either with or without medicaments in the shape of a nebula in the treatment of diseases is well known, and it is unnecessary to set forth the advantages of such use. Various devices have been proposed for producing the nebula; and the object of my invention is to provide an exceedingly simple and at the same time effective device or apparatus whereby a nebula of air, oxygen, or other gas, either medicated or not with 'one'or more kinds of medicament-s, may conveniently be produced and applied in the treatment of diseases or otherwise, and in order that my invention may be clearly understood I will now proceed to describe a preferred embodiment thereof, from which description the general principles and mode of operation and use of the apparatus will be understood by those skilled in the art.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a standard, which serves to support the operative parts of the device and which at the same at A time is hollowand serves as a delivery-passage for the air under pressure. In this connection I may state that when I use the term air Linclude, of course, oxygen or other gas or gases ora mixture thereof. This standard is connected with some suitable means for producing pressure of the air in the standard (not shown)as, for instance, a suitable pump orreservoir or other device-and A is a cock which controls the delivery of the compressed air to the hollow standard. Connected with this standard and communicating with its interior is some sort of an indicator to show the pressure of the air, and while various indicators may be used and they may be variously connected I have shown an indicator I in the form of a pressure-gage mounted on an upward extension A of the standard A. This standard serves as a support for the various devices constituting the nebulizer, and for convenience of manufacture it may be made in two parts, united as Connected to the standard are arms B B in the form of tubes having closed ends B B, and these maybe joined to the stand- .ard in any suitable way, and Ihave shown the standard as enlarged at-the point A and formed with socketsreceiving the adjacent ends of the arms B B, so that the arms practically form extensions of the hollow standard and constitute air-tubes supplied with air under pressure. Arranged in convenient relation with the air-tubes is a nebula-tube, and in the present instance this tube 0 is mounted on a bracket'orprojection A on the standard A, and the arms 0 C extend parallel to the arms of the air-tube and concen -tric therewith in the present instance and are provided with closed ends 0 G Mounted on these arms and connected to the nebulatube 0 are a number of flasks D, and while these may be connected to the tube in any desired way I have shown the tube as provided with nozzles 0 projecting. from the front side thereof and having downwardlyextending ends to which the flasksare united in any suitable way, as by means of coupling-pieces D; These coupling-pieces are screw-threaded to fit screw-threaded projections on the ends 0 and are also screwthreaded to receive the screw-threaded ends of the flasks, and this forms a convenient and practical mode of attaching the flasks. The nozzles are provided with passage-ways, one, as 0, extending through the downward projection and communicating with the flask and another, as c, communicating with the nebula-tube, and I provide a stop-cock between these two passage-ways, whereby the flow of nebula from the flask to the nebulatube can be controlled, and I have shown an adjustable cock C mounted in each nozzle and independently controlling the passageways therethrough. It is preferable to line the nebula-tube with some material inert to the medicaments used, and I have shown a lining O"'-such,for instance, as hard rubberand this of course is provided with an opening or passage-way communicating with the passage-way c of the nozzle. Thisnozzle not only supports the flask and provides a means of communication between the flask and the nebula-tube, but also furnishes a means of communication with the air-tube, and in the present instance I have shown the downwardly-extending end 0 as having a passage 0 adapted to receive the end of a connecting tube or pipe E, the other end of which is in communication with the air-tube B. It is important to provide each of these connecting-pipes with an independently-operated valve of some sort, and I have shown as interposed between the end of the pipe E and the air-tube B an adjustable valve E, the preferred construction of Which is clearly shown in Fig.3, and by this means each connecting-pipe communicating with the airtube can be controlled independently to admit air under pressure to the respective flasks. In this way it will be seen that between the air-tube B and the nebula-tube 0 there are arranged a connecting-pipe and an individual flask, and there are two cocks in each connection, so that not only can the flow of air from the air-tube B into the flask be controlled, as by the valve E, but the exit of the nebula from the flask and its passage into the nebula-tube O can independently be controlled, as by the cock C In this way it will be seen that air may be independently admitted into any one of the various flasks containing the desired medicament and the nebula therefrom delivered to the nebulatube without danger of contamination with any-of the other medicaments in any of the other flasks, as no air can be admitted to any particular flask without the proper adjustment of its particular valve E, and no nebula can be delivered from any flask without the proper adjustment of its particular stop-cock or valve C It is evident, however, that when desired air can be admitted to two or more of the flasks simultaneously and the nebula therefrom be discharged into the nebula-tube by properly adjusting the individual valves controlling the flow of air and nebula with respect to each flask.

In some cases it is desirable to use the compressed air directly without any medication,

and in order that this may be done I provide a suitable connection whereby the air can be delivered directly from the air-tube B, and I have shown a nozzle F connected to the airtube and provided with a suitable valve or cook F, whereby the flow of air may be controlled. To this nozzle may be attached any suitable connection-as, for instance, a flexible pipe F and this pipe may be provided with a suitable cut-0E G at its end, or in some instances this cut-01f can be arranged in place of the cook or valve F, although in many instances it is preferable to have the cut-off arranged at the extreme or operating end of the flexible pipe, especially in giving what is known as massage treatment. The preferred construction of this out-oiI" is shown in detail in Fig.7,where it is provided with a dis charge-nozzle G and has a receiving end or knob G adapted to be connected to the pipe, and there is a passage through the same controlled by a valve g. In this construction the body of the cut-off is provided with a horizontal passage g and a vertical passage g ,communicating therewith, the latter being controlled by the valve g, which is under the tension of a spring g The valve is provided with or above it is arranged a stem g, projecting upward through a packing g and suitable means are provided whereby the valve can be conveniently operated, as by a lever G pivoted in a bearing G, mounted on the nozzle, and it will be understood that by pressing this lever the valve can be opened to permit the flow of air, and when the lever is released thespring will quickly close the valve. Mounted on the body of the cut-off is a yoke G extending over the lever G and mounted in the yoke is an adjustingscrew G, bearing on the lever G and by means of this screw the lever can be adjusted so as to hold the valve 9 open continuously to any desired degree, so as to regulate the flow of the air through the cut-off.

In order to control the delivery of the nebula from the tube C, I have shown connected therewith a nozzle II, having a suitable valve or cut-off H, and connected with this nozzle is a flexible pipe H having a delivery device II of suitable construction adapted for the particular purpose for which the nebula is to be used. In this case I have shown a valve H, which is normally closed, but which can be opened by pressing the disk 7t, and while this is satisfactory in some cases it is evident that other valve devices or cut-offs, such as that shown at F or G, can be used, and this cut-off can be used at the front end of the pipe II when desired, especially in giving the so-called massage treatment with the nebula.

While various forms of nebulizing-tubes may be used to produce the nebulizing action in the flasks, I have shown, more especially in Figs. 4:, 5, and 6, a novel construction of nebulizing-tube K, which is exceedingly simple and at the same time effective. It comprises a main tube 70, one end of which is screw-threaded or otherwise adapted to fit the assa e o in the downwardl extending end O of the nozzle 0 The lower end of this tube is closed, and near the end there is a circumferentially-reduced portion having one or more lateral openings lo -communicating with the interior of the tube. The enlarged head or end k is provided with a slot or passage-way lc' at one side. Adapted to slide on the lower end of the tube 70 is a larger tube k provided with one or more lateral openings k arranged adjacent the openings k and communicating with the reduced portion of the tube It. In order to hold the parts in proper relation, the tube 70 is provided with a notch k engaging a stud k on the tube 70, insuring the holding of the two parts of the nebulizing-tube K in proper relation. It is understood that the air passing through the tube 70 finds its exit through the lateral openings it into the annular chamber formed by the reduced portion k and the inclosing tube 70 and entering this chamber it finds an exit through the lateral openings 70 producing suction in the tube 70 which beingimmersed in the liquid draws the same up through the passage-way M, and there mixing with the air it is forced violently against the sides of the flask, Where it is nebulized, and this nebula, filling the flask, is permitted to flow through the passage-ways c 0 into the nebulatube 0 when the cock (3 is opened. This neubulizing-tube I have found to be exceedingly effective, and it is very simple in construction and arrangement, and the parts are readily detached from each other for the purpose of cleaning or otherwise, and it will be seen that the air from the tube 76 first enters the chamber around the reduced portion of the tube and there mixes with the fluid to be nebulized, which mixture 'is forced through the lateral openings 76*, as above described, and delivered in an exceedingly fine nebulous condition.

Such being the details of construction of my improved device, its operation will be largely understood from the above description, and it will be seen that I produce an exceedingly simple and yet effective device, which is also ornamental in structure and design.

and its delivery can be regulated and controlled by the cut-01f. When desired, the nebula from any one of the medicaments can be delivered and its delivery controlled, and it will be seen that there is no danger of contamination of the medicament with any other contained in other flasks. sired, the medicaments from any two or more of the flasks can be nebulized and delivered to the tube without contamination from the others. Again, by providing independent connections between the air-tn be and nebulatube and having an independent cock controlling each connection,as well as an inde- By its use compressed air can be delivered directly without any medicaments,

Moreover, if deinstance, supposing it is desired to use a miX- ture of nebula from two different materials. one of which may be an oleaginous material and the other an aqueous solution, itis manifest that a higher pressure of air is required to produce the nebula from the oleaginous material than from the aqueous material, and it may be desired to usesimultan'eously or mix different proportions of the nebula from these two materials. It will be seen that by the use of my improvement this can be accomplished and any desired air-pressure ad mitted to any particular flask, and any degree of discharge of nebula from any particular flask can be regulated, and thus in the instance specified the proper amount of pres sure to properly nebulize the oleaginous material can be admitted to the flask holding it, and the proper amount of air-pressure to nebulize the aqueous solution can be admitted to its flask, the cock admitting the pressure to each flask being independent of every other, and, as before stated, the discharge of the nebula in any proper proportion can be regulated. Again, if two materials, for instance,

which nebulize equally well and under the same pressure are to be used, but it is desired to use different proportions of the nebula, this can readily be accomplished, and in operation the air-cock of one flask is opened to the proper extent to admit air-pressure into the flask, and then the air-cock of the other flask is opened, admitting, if desired,the same amount of air-pressu re. Then on turning the nebula-cock of one flask a quarter-way around and the'nebula-cook of the other flask a half or three-quarters or any relative distance'the nebula from the two flasks will be delivered into the nebula-tube in the desired proportions. I

Having thus described the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings'without limiting myself tothe exact construction what I claim is 1. In a nebulizer,'the combination with a standard and air-tube communicating therewith, of a nebula-tube, a plurality of flasks;

connected with the nebula-tube, astop-cook between each flask and the nebula-tube, a,

plurality of connecting-pipes between the air tube and the flasks, independent stop-cocks in said pipes, and a discharge-nozzle connected with the nebula-tube provided with a cutoff, substantially as described;

2. A nebulizer, comprising a standard and air-tube connected thereto for receiving an &

under pressure, a nozzle having a cut-off connected to said air-tube, a nebula-tube, a plurality of flasks connected to said nebula-tube, a stop-cock between each flask and the nebula'tube, connecting-pipes between the airtube and the flasks, a stop-cock for each pipe, and a nozzle connected to the nebula-pipe provided with a cut-off, substantially as described.

3. In a nebulizer, a nebulizing-tube comprising two portions'one of which is closed at.

its end and is provided with a circumferentially-reduced portion above the end and a lateral opening communicating with the interior of the tube, and an enlarged head thereon having a slot, the other portion fitting over the first portion, forming an annular chamber at the reduced portion and also having a lateral opening, substantially as described.

4. In a nebulizer, a nebulizing-tube com prising two portions one of which is closed at its end and is provided with a circumferentially-reduced portion above the end and a lateral opening communicating with the interior of the tube, and an enlarged head with a longitudinal groove, the other portion fitting over the first portion, forming an annular chamber at the reduced portion and also having a lateral opening, one portion being provided with a stud and the other With a notch for holding the parts in adjustment, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES TRUAX.

YVitnesses:

E. E. PALMER, \V. C. IVICALISTER. 

